Requiem III: The Search for The Truth

by Bonnie Eagan & Alisa Joaquin

Part 44: Matthew's Journey into the Past

Peter and Kermit made their way back through the passageways. This time they were no longer hindered. Some of the doors were locked to be sure, but they no longer seemed to have that strange energy that shocked the young Shaolin earlier. Though Kermit had not felt it himself, he did not doubt his friend, having experienced some very strange things in his sister's house at the Gables and his association with the Caines.

They made their way down to the level of the temple in silence. When they reached the area, Matthew was sitting on the third level of the steps in deep concentration and the Ancient sat beside Kwai Chang Caine who now rested up against the side of the doorframe.

"Peter, do you have the potion?"

"Sure." Peter pulled out the bottle.

"Very good. We may all need to drink some of this before all is done."

"What's in that stuff?" Kermit asked.

"Various herbs that will strengthen a person's chi very quickly under less perilous circumstances." Lo Si took the bottle and poured some into the smaller ceramic jar. He then brought that jar to Kwai Chang's lips. "Drink, my friend."

"What's my grandfather doing over there?"

"He is discovering the truth."

"The truth about what?"

"What binds the spirits to this place. Please, Peter, show me what you have found."

Peter pulled out each of the items and the Ancient nodded with approval. Then Peter showed him the page in the book of Shambhala. "What does it mean?"

"It is clear as to what must be done. As soon as your grandfather returns from his journey, we will begin."

"What journey, he's sitting right there," Kermit stated.

"It is a journey into the past. Come we will go over what is written here and prepare."

*
Matthew Caine focused his chi and soon found himself traveling through the vortex of time. It was to a place he had not seen since Kwai Chang was a boy. In this place and time, he was simply an observer. No one could see or hear him. Matthew observed that a small group had gathered in this once sacred space. He moved closer to listen to what was being said.

"These papers give me the right to take this temple."

"Let me see those papers," the soldier ordered. "We have orders that this temple is to be torn down. Nothing of this place is to remain."

"This is a bill of sale. You need to honor that. Do with the people that you will, but the temple must remain intact."

Matthew Caine observed the man speaking to the soldier. He wore dark sunglasses and Matthew could see the evidence of some scarring. So, that is how the temple ended up in America. Someone must have arranged for it to be moved, but how were his brethren bound to this place? Matthew stepped around the solder and the man in the sunglasses and entered the temple's gates. As he moved through, time and space shifted. He could hear voices, chanting and praying. They were the souls of his brethren. Then suddenly, he heard cries of pain and anguish. It was the night of the raid. He saw a soldier grab one young boy, Li Pei. Then he saw his own son being grabbed followed by his younger self rescuing his son from the soldier's grasp and possible certain death. The young soldier's face who held Li Pei turned toward him and he saw that it was Kim Luc. He was no more than just a boy in Matthew's eyes.

Matthew turned away from the scene and saw many bodies of his brethren laying on the stones and upon the stairs. As he fixed their image in his memory, the bodies shimmered and faded. Another scene was played out in this sacred space. A man, old and bent, leaned over a small, bubbling cauldron. Kim Luc, now older, was with him. He held in his hands a large urn. The old man took the urn and poured its contents into the cauldron. Matthew came closer and observed that what was contained in the urn were ashes and bits of bone. After the contents of the urn had been emptied, the old man took a long rod. Bits of string were tied to it. The strings where then dipped into the boiling contents. Up and down the strings were dipped until they were coated with a dark substance. Matthew realized at that moment that the remains of his brethren were being imbedded into candle wax. As Matthew continued to watch, his eyes were drawn into the boiling wax and the scene changed again. He could see Kim Luc opening a book and reciting a passage, his hands passing over each candle as he did so. Matthew now knew the secret and once realized he found himself rushing back through the vortex.

As Matthew came to, the Ancient brought a small bottle to his lips and had him drink. He could feel the potion course through his system, bringing renewed energy to his chi. Once recovered, he found his voice and began to explain. "I have found the answer." Matthew explained to the others what he had seen. "But I do not know how to free our brethren."

"I believe Peter has the answer." And the Ancient showed Matthew what Peter had found. "We must be in place and prepared before the Master tries to strike again."

"Will my son be ready?"

"I am," Kwai Chang rose from the floor, his strength restored. "But what of Peter. He should not be here."

"On the contrary, my friend," Lo Si acknowledged. "I have seen what must be done. We will need his help if we are to succeed. After all, he is Shaolin, and we will need four."

"Very well," Kwai Chang stated. "What must be done?"

Continues with Part 45